Vancouver Rainy Day Activities

The Lower Mainland’s best things to do on rainy days include visiting Vancouver museums, restaurants, indoor attractions and entertainment venues.

Vancouver offers so many fun things to do indoors, which is good seeing as we get so much rain!

Below you’ll find information on the following topics. Continue reading for the full article, or click a link to jump to a particular list.

Seasonal Indoor Places | Dry Places for All Ages | Rainy Day Places for Kids | Adult Rainy Day Activities

Rainy Day Things to Do in Vancouver

So where should one go to escape the wet stuff? Below are a few suggestions, including special seasonal activities plus lists of dry places for people of all ages, for children specifically and for adults.

For a video of Vancouver’s best rainy day places, click Vancouver Rainy Day Activities Video. For a list of best rainy day places, see below.

Seasonal Indoor Places

Below are lists of indoor festivals, events , concerts, activities and attractions happening this time of year that are great to do and visit on rainy days.

WinterFest at MOS – there are Christmas trees and family-friendly activities at the Museum of Surrey from November 23rd to December 21st. Admission is free.
Family Day at PdA – Place des Arts Centre hosts a free Family Day event in Coquitlam on November 24th.
Super Weekend at FRDC – special family-friendly activities happen at the Fraser River Discovery Centre in New Westminster on the weekend of November 23rd and 24th.
Celebrations of Light at MONOVA – a Create & Connect event happens at the Museum of North Vancouver on November 24th.
FlyOver at Canada Place – the multidimensional film Awaken Canada shows at the theatre in downtown Vancouver. Until November 20th there is also Legendary Iceland. After that, Soar with Santa runs until the beginning of January.
North Shore Bike Park – a huge indoor cycling facility located in Capilano Mall in North Vancouver.
Lower Mainland Christmas Craft Fairs – a number or holiday artisan markets take place at various venues this time of year.

In addition to the above, we list a number of museums and other indoor attractions further below, plus examples of concerts, plays and other shows.

Concerts, Theatre & Other Shows

Shows & Entertainment – the following performing arts events take place at various venues in Metro Vancouver:
- Golden Girls: The Laughs Continue – the adults-only play based on the 1990’s TV sitcom is at the Chilliwack Cultural Centre with an all-male cast on November 23rd.
- Music of John Williams Concert – the VAM Symphony Orchestra performs at the Orpheum Theatre on November 24th.
- Presentation House Theatre – the kid-friendly play Where the Wild Things Are shows in North Vancouver from November 22nd until December 1st.
- The Improv Centre – live comedy theatre takes place at the theatre on Granville Island between four and six days a week.
- Cirque du Soleil – the famous circus company presents ECHO at Concord Pacific Place. (October 9th to January 5th)
- Metro Theatre – the Canadian play Billy Bishop Goes to War is at Metro Theatre in South Vancouver. (November 9th to 30th)
- First Impressions Theatre – the mystery/comedy The 39 Steps plays in North Vancouver. (November 14th to 30th)
- Dance in Vancouver – dance performances take place at the Scotiabank Dance Centre. (November 20th to 24th)
- Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding – dinner theatre comedy takes place on Commercial Drive. (November 22nd & 23rd)
- Dolly Parton’s Smokey Mountain Christmas Carol – the holiday musical shows in Vancouver from November 14th until December 24th.

For even more things to do when the weather isn’t great, continue reading.

Other Indoor Activities & Attractions

Good indoor activities to do this time of year are listed below.

Have a Vancouver Staycation – there are some pretty good hotel deals happening this time of year. If you book one or two nights at a downtown Vancouver hotel you can get a bonus gift through StayVancouverHotels.com.
Zero Latency – a VR games centre where you can battle zombies and other creatures with or against your friends in virtual reality. They have locations in both Vancouver and Langley.
The Improv Centre – live comedy theatre takes place at Granville Island.
FlyOver Canada – multidimensional flying films show at the theatre at Canada Place.
BC Sports Hall of Fame – a sports museum at BC Place Stadium.
MONOVA – the Museum of North Vancouver has lots of interesting information about the history of the North Shore.
Vancouver Maritime Museum – a family-friendly museum at Vanier Park. (TIP: Use the promo code BESTVANCOUVER and save 25%!)
Chinese Canadian Museum – a museum in Vancouver’s Chinatown that showcases the history of Chinese Canadians in Canada.
Museum of Surrey – the museum in Cloverdale has free admission.
Lower Mainland Restaurants – there are thousands of other restaurants that are great places to spend time with friends and family too. In downtown Vancouver there are places like the P2B Restaurant, H Tasting Lounge and H2 Kitchen, and on the North Shore there is Pier 7 and The Lobby. There are amazing restaurants all over the region!

Continue reading below for more great places to visit on rainy days, including museums like those listed below.

Featured Attractions to Check Out on Rainy Days

Vancouver Maritime Museum – the family-friendly museum by Vanier Park is a great place to visit rain or shine. Use the promo code BESTVANCOUVER and save 25% on the cost of admission.
Fraser River Discovery Centre – a educational museum that’s especially great for young children in New Westminster. It also has tours on weekends.
Chinese Canadian Museum – a relatively new museum in Vancouver’s Chinatown that’s open from Wednesdays to Sundays.
Museum of Surrey – the museum is located at 17710 56a Avenue in Cloverdale. Not only is it a great place on a rainy day, but admission is also free.
CPR Engine 374 Pavilion – a free museum in Yaletown at the Roundhouse Community Centre. Inside you’ll find the first locomotive to arrive in Vancouver back in 1887.

Dry Places for Folks of All Ages

Great indoor Vancouver places any time of the year are listed below. See even further below for places specifically for kids and other places specifically for adults.

Places within the City of Vancouver

BC Sports Hall of Fame – a museum full of sports memorabilia at BC Place Stadium.
Bill Reid Gallery – the Indigenous art gallery in downtown Vancouver.
Bloedel Conservatory – an indoor glass-domed tropical garden facility at the top of the hill at Queen Elizabeth Park.
Dimensions Art Gallery – a small gallery with paintings and other exhibits that present optical illusions and great photo opportunities not far from Gastown.
FlyOver Canada – a film and flight simulation attraction at Canada Place.
Museum of Vancouver (MOV) – the best place to learn about Vancouver history indoors.
Pacific Centre Mall – a good place for indoor shopping in downtown Vancouver.
Roedde House Museum – a heritage building that offers guided tours of a home built in the 1890s in Vancouver’s West End.
Vancouver Maritime Museum – an exceptional place to visit if you like maritime history and want a dry place.

Places Elsewhere within Metro Vancouver and the Lower Mainland

Britannia Mine – a museum that’s 45 minutes from downtown Vancouver and formerly the largest copper mine in the British Empire. (Note: It’s mostly indoors, but some of it is outside and visitors have to walk outdoors between buildings, so if it’s raining hard, you might still want an umbrella.)
Canadian Museum of Flight – a small airplane museum at Langley’s Regional Airport.
Gobo VR – a family-friendly virtual reality arcade centre at Guildford Town Centre in Surrey.
Gulf of Georgia Cannery – a historic site and museum in Steveston Village in Richmond.
North Shore Ski Hills – but only if they happen to be above the clouds (so check before you go).
- Grouse Mountain – in North Vancouver.
- Cypress Mountain – in West Vancouver.
- Mt. Seymour – in North Vancouver.
Metrotown – if you want to do some giant-shopping-mall shopping.
Museum of North Vancouver (MONOVA) – a place to learn about the history of the North Shore.
Museum of Surrey – a museum at 17710 56a Avenue in Cloverdale.
North Shore Bike Park – a large indoor cycling facility with tracks for all skill levels in North Vancouver’s Capilano Mall.

Other Places with Various Locations

Vancouver Climbing Centres – facilities with climbing walls and bouldering opportunities exist throughout the Lower Mainland.
Professional Sports Games (including ones with the following local teams):
- Vancouver Canucks – NHL hockey at Rogers Arena from October until around April.
- Vancouver Giants – WHL junior hockey at the Langley Events Centre from September until around March.
- BC Lions – CFL Canadian football from June until around November at BC Place Stadium.
- Vancouver Whitecaps – Major League Soccer at BC Place Stadium from March until October.
- Vancouver Canadians – NWL baseball at Nat Bailey Stadium from June until September.
For more good places and things to do for people of all ages in Vancouver on a rainy day, check out Vancouver’s Best Places for Entertainment and Vancouver’s Best Restaurants.

Science World Statues with Umbrella — Science World on a Rainy Day

Rainy Day Places for Kids

Wondering what to do with children on a wet, miserable day? Below are some great kid-friendly rainy day places.

Castle Fun Park – home to the best indoor mini golf in the Fraser Valley (plus outdoor go karts, bumper cars, batting cages and more).
Chuck E. Cheese – a fun place to take young children in Langley.
Clip ‘n Climb Vancouver – a colourful indoor climbing facility with ladders, staircases, walls and all kinds of things to climb in Richmond.
Extreme Air Park – indoor trampoline centres in New Westminster, Richmond and Langley.
Fraser River Discovery Centre – a educational museum in New Westminster.
Funky Monkey Fun Park – laser tag, bumper cars, pirate ship ride and playground at 13853-104 Avenue in Surrey.
H.R. MacMillan Space Centre – home of Vancouver’s planetarium.
Kidtropolis – an indoor miniature village in Richmond that’s suitable for children ages 3 to about 8.
Science World – a great IMAX Theatre and lots of cool science stuff to see.
Watermania – one of the Lower Mainland’s best aquatic centres, and a best place for children in Richmond.
West Vancouver Aquatic Centre – another one of the best indoor aquatic centres in Metro Vancouver.
If you don’t mind the rain and want to take in other top attractions without the crowds, check out Vancouver’s Best Places for Children, for top things to do with kids in general.

Adult Rainy Day Activities

For great bars and restaurants, check out Vancouver’s best places to eat and drink. Just don’t worry about places with fancy views, though – if the weather is bad, you won’t be able to see much.

For music, theatre and other performances around town, check out Vancouver’s Best Places’ Shows and Entertainment Calendar.

Indoor places that are of interest to people of all ages, but in particular adults, include the following:

Beaty Biodiversity Museum – a museum with a biological collection at UBC.
Bill Reid Gallery – a Northwest Coast Indigenous art gallery in downtown Vancouver.
Gobo VR – virtual reality game centre in Surrey where you can do shooting games, VR car racing and RV escape room adventures.
Vancouver Art Gallery – a great place for art and to escape the rain.
Museum of Anthropology – an excellent anthropological museum at UBC.
The Improv Centre – live improvisational comedy on Granville Island.
Zero Latency – a virtual reality game centre where you can battle pirates, zombies and aliens in Vancouver.